DeAnn Scott-Harp is a recent graduate of our program: she earned a Master of Science in Agricultural Safety and Health with a focus on Injury Prevention in May 2018. Her thesis is entitled: "Barriers to the Adoption of Safe Beef Cattle Handling Practices, Equipment, and Facilities in Iowa." She received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business/Public Service and Administration in Agriculture from Iowa State University in Ames, IA. DeAnn has quite a strong background in agriculture: she grew up and still works on her family farm in Mount Pleasant, IA, where they raise beef cattle and crops. She also works on her husband's family farm, raising horses, mules, donkeys, beef cattle, hogs, meat and dairy goats, chickens, ducks, and American Cattle dogs. Although their focus is primarily on livestock production, they also raise some alfalfa and commodity crops for feed usage. As DeAnn's experience with livestock production and handling is substantial, her research focused on issues associated with this particular field, including reasons why farmers, ranchers and others involved with cattle production do not implement safer equipment and practices when handling livestock. For her thesis, DeAnn designed and conducted a mixed-methods project comprised of an online survey along with in-depth interviews that included site visits and walk-throughs at Iowa beef operations. DeAnn believes that "injury prevention is something that is best introduced at a young age and continually emphasized as one grows older". Aside from graduate coursework, she was also involved with the Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety. DeAnn hopes to have a career in agricultural safety education for youth.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Brandi Janssen